Portable washing machine



Aug. 17 1926.

T. J. MCDONALD ET AL PORTABLE WASHING MACHINE 3 SheetsLShee'c Filed Ma-y 2,

Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,440 T. J. MCDONALD ET Ai. PORTABLE WASHING vMACHIM:

Filed May 2. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www Aug. 17 1926.

T. J. MGDONALD ET AL PORTABLE WASHING MACHINE 3 SheetsLSheet 5 Filed May 2. 1925 Patented ug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. MCDCNALD AND WILLIS n. WOOLRICH, or xNoxvILLE, TENNESSEE; sAm

WOOLRICH AssIGNoR To THE SAID McnoNALn.

PORTABLE WASHING MACHINE.

Application led May 2,

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to improve ments in a portable machine, the parts of which are so arranged that the clothes may be effectively washed, rinsed and dried with? out removing the clothes from the receptacle` during the various processes. p

A primary object of the invention is to provide a portable washing machine with means whereby a revoluble tub is arranged to rotate around a horizontal axis during the Washing operation to thoroughly clean the clothes, and is driven about a vertical axis during the rinsing and drying operation to dry the clothes before they are removed `from the tub. y

A further object of the invention consists in operatively connecting the rotatable tub to a motor in such a manner that the rotation of the tub may be varied so as to revolve faster durin the rinsing and drying operation than villen the clothes are being washed.

The invention further comprehends-the provision of means for preventing the clothes from balling up and becoming entangled during the operation -of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, wherein is set forth a `preferred embodiment of the invention:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the invention, showing in dotted lines, the machine in horizontal position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view taken substantially along the lines 4-4 of Figure 3, i

Figure 5 is a detailed view showing the adjusting means for securing the container in vertical position, and

Figure 6 is a detailed View of the operating handle and its associated parts.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts in the several views, 10 denotes a metallic supporting frame which, preferably, comprises tubular side bars' 11 connected together by the cross bars l2. The bars 11 slope inwardly at their upper ends and are provided with the retaining lugs or bearings 14 arranged to receive the trunnions 15 carried by a central band 16 which' encircles the metal container or receptacle 17. The container 17 is addfmally surrounded at its upper end 1925. Serial No. 27,526.

clamp 21 is preferably curved so as to be of the same contour as the transverse bars 12, to which they are detachably connected. The container 17 adjacent the ring 18 has suitably secured thereto diametrically opposed handles 25 for permitting the container to be conveniently placed on or removed from the supporting frame 10.

A revolving tubl 26, preferably of hexagonal formation in cross section, is mounted within the container 17, and is provided with the perforations 26 and a series of vertical corrugations 27 on its inner Walls so as to cause an effective .cleaning of the clothes carried by the tub during the washing operation. The inner wall of the tub 26 is further provided with opposed inwardlyI extending protuberances or thimbles 28 struck out from opposite sides of the tub, and referably positioned in a line to form an ob ique angle to the vertical to prevent the clothes from balling up or becoming entangled during the washing operation. The tub 26 is rotatably mounted within the container 17 by means of a spindle 29, which projects upwardly and centrally from the bottom of the container 17 and fits within a complementary recess 30 formed in the bottom of the tub 26. The top of the tub 26 is closed by a lid 31 which frictionally engages the inner Wall thereof. The outer face of the lid 31 Vhas a central boss 33 provided With afrecess 34 preferably of square or polygonal shape so as to receive a correspondingly formed member carried by the drive shaft hereinafter referred to.

A motor supporting frame 35 Ahas extending from the lower portion thereof laterally forked anges 36 arranged to receive the wing nuts 19 so as to detachably, but firmly, secure the support 35 and the lid 31 to the container 17. A motor 37 of any suitable horsepower is mounted upon the support 35,

and is operatively connected to the main drive shaft 38 through the instrumentality of a lvariable gear mechanism which com? prises-ashaft 39.havinga bevel gear 40 in mesh'iwitha complementary lgear 41 on the vertical shaft 42. The shaft 42 has its up per end extendingthrog-h a housing 43 while its lower portion is supported by the spaced webs 44 and 45 formed in the frame 35. A slidable sleeve 46 is mounted on the shaft 42, and extends.` through a bushing 47 carried by the web 44. The lower portion of the sleeve 46 has a gear A48 arranged to meshA with a large gear l49 keyed to the main shaft 38. Below the gear 48, the sleeve 46 is pro- .vided `with a smooth surface 50, arranged to frictionally engage a complementary surface 51 formedl in the clutch 52. The clutch 52 is supportedby the thrust bearings `53 carried in a recess formed in the lower web of the support, and is. provided exteriorly with a series of gear teeth 54 in mesh with fa small gear '55, keyed to the notches y67 in the plate 66 so as to maintain the handle y61 and its associated parts in fixed position.- It will be seen that by reason of this construction the handle 61 may be .operated to Abring the gear 48 in mesh with the'large gear 49 for rotating the tub during the washing operation, or may move Athe sleeve 46 downward so as to cause the surface to frictionally engage the complementary surface in the clutch 54, so as to drive the gear 55 and cause the tub to rotate at a relatively much faster speed than .when driven through the gear 49.

A pulley 63, carried bythe shaft 39, and a pulley 62, mounted on the auxiliary shaft 42 permits the motor to be used 'for other driving purposes when `the same is desired.

In order to prevent the lubricating oil from dripping into the tub, a cup 58 is secured to the underside of the transverse web 45.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the clothes to be washed to be in the tub 26, and the container 17 supplied with the necessary amount of water and journalled to the supporting frame 11 by engagement of the trunnions 15 with the bearings 14, the clothes will be subjected to the washing treatment by swinging the container 17, the tub 26, and the motor 37 to' the horizontal position as 4indicated in dotted extends laterally from lines in Figure 2, in which position the lowerA clamp 21 will engage the adjacent cross bar 12 so as to prevent movement of the container relativel to the frame 10. The operating handle 61 at the same time, is moved to the position as shown in Figure 2, so as to bring the gear 48 in mesh with the gear 49 of the m'ain drive shaft 38, and thus cause the tub' 26 to revolve about its horizontal axis. During this operation, the clothes are prevented from balling up by reason of the particular positionl of the cups 28, which, it will be observed, are stag gered. so as to lift the clothes to the top of the tub 'and then-allow them 'Ito 4drop to the bottom. After the clothes have been thoroughly washed, theywater is removed both from the container 17 and the tub 26 through a drain vpipe 64, positioned 1n the bottom of the container 17. The container 17, together with the tub 26 and motor 37, are then swung to the verticalV position as shown in full lines in Figure 2, and the operating handle 61 is actuated so as to cause thesurface 50 of the sleeve 46 to frictionally engage the interior of the clutch 54', which directly connects the' motor with the small gear 55 of'the main shaft 38, and causes vthe tub 26 to revolve at a much higher rate of speed than that at which it was driven during the washing operation. Due to the high centrifugal force at which the clothes are driven during the wringing operation, they will be effec/tively dried in' a very short period of time, and then can be easily removed from the container by de taching the lid 31 from the tub 26.

This machine is particularly adapted for use in apartment houses and places where space is very limited. In addition to the device being arranged to be supported directly on` the ground, it may be fixedly i mounted within a bath tub or the like by means of the threaded screws 65 which extend laterall through the arms 11, and are adapted to rictionally engage the adjacent sides of a bath tub. It will be observed that the parts are all detachably, but firmly, connected to each other so that the machine may be readily dismantled or Aset up at a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is.

merely illustrative, and in no sense restrictive, and that such changes as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art may be made without departing from the'spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A washing'machine of the class described comprising a stationary support, a container pivotally mounted on said support and having an o en top, a revolving erforated tub journa led in the bottom o said container, a cover detachably connected to said top, a motor'mounted on the cover, means connecting the motor to the top of the tub for the driving the same, and means for detachably connecting the container to the support in either of two positions.

2. A washing machine of the class described comprising a stationary support including transverse end bars, a container pivotally mounted on said support and having an open top, said container adapted to be swung either to a horizontal or vertical position relative to the support, a revolving perforated tub journalled in the bottom of said container, a cover detachably connected to said top, a. Imotor mounted on the cover, means connecting the motor to the to of the tub for driving the same, and yiel able means on the container adapted to engage the transverse bars for maintaining the container and motor in either a horizontal or Vertical position.

3. A washing machine of the class described comprising a stationary support including transverse end bars, a container pivotally mounted on said support and having an open top, said container adapted to be sw'ung either to a horizontal or vertical position relative to the support, a revolving perforated tub journalled in the bottom of said container, thimbles projecting inwardly from said tuband positioned in a line to form an oblique angle to the vertical, a cover detachably connected to said top, a motor mounted on the cover, means connecting the motor to the top of the tub for driving the same, and yieldable means on the container adapted to engage the transverse bars for maintaining the container and motor in either a horizontal or vertical position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of May, 1925.

THOMAS J. MCDON ALD.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of April, 1925.

' WILLIS R. WOOLRICH. 

